Semitransparent grips for use with athletic equipment

ABSTRACT

A semitransparent grip can be used on various types of athletic equipment such as golf clubs, baseball bats, hockey sticks, and lacrosse sticks to cover a customizable label while maintaining features such as durability, clarity, lifespan, visibility, tackiness, and durometer, and resisting degradation from weather and chemical factors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/719,130 filed Oct. 26, 2012, titled SEMITRANSPARENT GRIPS FOR USEWITH ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to semitransparent grips that can be usedwith a variety of athletic equipment in order to allow a label to beplaced, and to be visible, beneath a weather and chemical resistantgrip.

BACKGROUND

Currently, some athletic equipment, such as golf clubs, baseball bats,hockey sticks, and lacrosse sticks, use grips to increase tackiness andassist the user in maintaining a better hold on the piece of equipment.These grips are frequently opaque. Often, they do not providecustomizable features. Additionally, the few grips that aresemitransparent lack durability, they deteriorate when exposed to gripsolvents, and they decrease quickly in clarity and lifespan due to UVexposure. A better semitransparent grip is needed in order to provideresistance to side effects from grip solvents, extended use, and UVexposure and to assist with visibility of customizable labels.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to grips for use with athleticequipment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates tosemitransparent grips for use with athletic equipment such as golf clubsor baseball bats, or any other athletic equipment that may be of asimilar shape, such as a lacrosse stick or hockey stick. Thesemitransparent grip allows a user to place a label underneath the gripand to be able to view the label through the grip. The label may includeimages or words, or may be an advertisement.

In some embodiments, the semitransparent grip is molded in the form of atube so as to allow a user to install the grip by sliding the grip overthe end of an article of athletic equipment with a uniform shapethroughout the length to be covered by the grip, such as the shaft of agolf club. In some embodiments, the semitransparent grip is in the formof a wrap, allowing a user to install the grip on an article of athleticequipment with a non-uniform shape, with a lip or ridge at the end ofthe article, or with a shape that is wider at the end than at the pointwhere the grip will rest, such as the shaft of a baseball bat orlacrosse stick. In any of the above, the grip can be made of materialdesigned to provide flexibility to the grip.

Reference is made throughout the present disclosure to certain aspectsof the grip described herein. Such references to aspects of thepresently described grip do not limit the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, any examples set forth in this disclosure are not intendedto be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possibleembodiments for the disclosed grip. It is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top and bottom view of a golf club.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a golf club with one embodiment of the gripinstalled.

FIG. 3 is close-up side views of a label on a golf club with oneembodiment of the molded grip installed over the label, wherein thelabel is visible through the grip.

FIG. 4 is close-up side views of a label on a golf club with oneembodiment of the molded grip installed over the label, wherein thelabel is visible through the grip.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the installation process of a label,clear, double-sided adhesive and a semitransparent grip using solvent.

FIG. 6 shows one example of a pronged cap used with the molded gripaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top and bottom view of a baseball bat.

FIG. 8 depicts side views of a baseball bat with one embodiment of thewrap grip installed over a label, wherein the label is visible throughthe grip.

FIG. 9 illustrates a label with liner removed installed on a baseballbat and held in place with adhesive on underside of label. The liner isremoved from wrap grip and wrapped in a spiral motion around the batwith clear adhesive securing the wrap grip to the bat.

FIG. 10 is a view of the wrap grip, installed over a label and securedto a baseball bat, wherein the label is visible through the grip.

FIG. 11 depicts tie off tape securing both ends of the wrap grip to thebat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a semitransparent grip for use with anarticle of athletic equipment, such as a baseball bat or golf club.Various embodiments of the grip will be described in detail withreference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals representlike parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference tovarious embodiments does not limit the scope of the grip disclosedherein. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification arenot intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the manypossible embodiments for the grip. It is understood that variousomissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended tocover applications or embodiments without departing from the spirit orscope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring to FIG. 1 through 5, the grip may be molded in the form of atube to fit over an article of athletic equipment such as the shaft of agolf club. The semitransparent molded grip is ideally made of athermoplastic elastomer (TPE). TPEs, sometimes referred to asthermoplastic rubbers, are a class of copolymers or a physical mix ofpolymers, such as a plastic and a rubber, which consist of materialswith both thermoplastic (i.e., moldable above a certain temperature) andelastomeric (i.e., viscous and elastic) properties. TPEs are relativelyeasy to use in manufacturing, for example, by injection molding. Whilemost elastomers are thermosets (a polymer material that irreversiblycures), thermoplastics, unlike thermosets, show advantages typical ofboth rubbery materials and plastic materials. The principal moleculardifference between thermoset elastomers and TPEs is how the polymers arelinked to each other through the use of a crosslink. In fact,crosslinking is a critical structural factor which contributes to imparthigh elastic properties for polymers with non-covalently crosslinkedbonds. The crosslink in thermoset polymers is a covalent bond createdduring the vulcanization process. On the other hand, the crosslink inTPE polymers is a weaker dipole or hydrogen bond that takes place duringthe process of creating a TPE. Therefore, the crosslinking propertiesthat result from weaker bonds are preferred for the disclosed inventionbecause they allow the final product to maintain more elasticproperties.

In one embodiment, the materials used to make the grip 210 are comprisedof a petroleum-based blend of TPEs. Use of a TPE may have many benefits:clarity of the grip is maintained, the weight can be adjusted to fit theneeds of each specific grip manufactured, and the durometer, or hardnessfactor, can be adjusted to the precise durometer rating required, amongother things.

In one embodiment, the synthetic materials may also include a UVprotectant, for example, fluoropolymers such as PTFE, FEP, PFA or otherextruded resins, to maintain its clarity, durometer rating, andtackiness, and to enhance the finished product. Because UV exposure cancause the clarity, lifespan, and visibility of a grip to deterioratequickly, one embodiment of the grip 210 disclosed herein includes a UVprotectant to maintain clarity of the grip, extend product life andincrease visibility of the printed label.

Many grip solvents, which are used to install the majority of grips,will instantly deteriorate the materials used in earlier models ofsemitransparent grips. Therefore, in one embodiment of the disclosedinvention, the TPE used as base material for the grip may includesolvent-safe materials so as to allow the use of grip solvents, such as,but not limited to, Mineral Spirits, Acrylic Lacquer Thinner and/orother similar solvents, without destroying the grip. In someembodiments, the molded grip 210 disclosed herein uses a blend ofmaterials, which will stand up to all grip solvents.

Some embodiments of the molded grip 210 may include an anti-leachingagent. Due to the properties of the oil based raw product, the inclusionof an anti-leaching agent, such as pentanediol diisobutyrates,cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid esters, or monostearate derivatives, willprevent the oils from reaching the surface of the grip and ensure thedesired tackiness.

The curing stage of the manufacturing process may include an improvedcooling method to improve the clear finish and texture of the moldedgrip 210. Commonly, grips are air cooled at room temperature; a moreconsistent product can be achieved by using an improved cooling processthrough the use of, for example, water, air, a combination of water andair, or some other material or combination therefrom, that makes contactwith the mold after it is heated.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 through 5, the exterior of the molded grip 210may be of a shape and size that is not uniform, for example, the moldedgrip 210 may be wider at one end than at the other so as to make iteasier for a user to hold the grip firmly. FIG. 1 includes a top 110 andbottom 120 view of an example article of athletic equipment 220 whichthe molded grip 210 may be used with, specifically, a golf club in thisexample. FIG. 2 through 4 show the molded grip 210 after it has beeninstalled on or attached to a golf club. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4,the molded grip 210 may be slid over an artwork sticker or label 310that has been attached to the article of athletic equipment 220. Theartwork labels may consist of a variety of substrates that arecolorfast. Many grips are installed using an opaque, double-sidedadhesive, which attaches to the shaft of an article of athleticequipment (such as a golf club) to secure the grip in place. The gripdisclosed herein can include a clear, double-sided adhesive with asemitransparent grip. By using the clear, double-sided adhesive, thegrip enhances visibility of the label, while also having a secure bondto the grip.

FIG. 5 is a diagram which illustrates an installation process of thelabel 310, a clear, double-sided adhesive 510 and the semitransparentmolded grip 210. A liner (not numbered) is removed from the label 310,exposing an adhesive on the non-printed side of the label 310. The label310 is then wrapped completely around the shaft of the article ofathletic equipment 220 (for example, a golf club) and secured there. Adisposable peel-off liner (not numbered) is then removed from one sideof the clear, double-sided adhesive 510, and the clear, double-sidedadhesive 510 is placed over the label 310 to completely cover the label310 before the liner (not numbered) is removed from the other side ofthe clear, double-sided adhesive 510. Grip solvent 520 is then applied(for example, by spraying) to the inner surface of the molded grip 210and emptied completely over the clear, double sided adhesive 510 whichis attached to the label 310 that is secured to the shaft of the articleof athletic equipment 220 (here, a golf club). The molded grip 210 isthen slid completely over the adhesive 510 and label 310. Additionally,an air compressor may be used to assist in sliding the grip 210 over thelabel 310 and adhesive 510. The clear, double sided adhesive strip 510,attached to the label/bumper sticker 310, will ensure a completeattachment to the grip 210 when installed. The grip solvent 520 will beused to deactivate the adhesive, allowing the grip 210 to be slid overthe label 310 and adhesive 510. The adhesive will then dry and providedurable attachment to the label 310 and article of athletic equipment220.

Traditionally, other models of grips have a cap that is one piecetogether with the grip. This one-piece design became a major concernsince continually putting a golf club back in the bag may quickly cut ahole in the top of the grip. The grip disclosed herein may include aseparate cap piece attached to the grip. The cap 620, an example ofwhich is illustrated in FIG. 6, may be made of a hard cap material, oran injection molded part, and may feature a pronged design 610 to createa better attachment to the grip in the manufacturing process, and to addneeded firmness to this area of the grip. The multiple pronged capdesign 610 will extend down inside the molded grip. The cap 620 may alsobe an opaque color for easier recognition in regards to size and style.In some embodiments, the cap 620 may be a metal cap in lieu of theinjection molded cap to create a firmer cap area of the grip.

Referring now to FIG. 7 through 11, the grip disclosed herein may be inthe form of a wrap, allowing a user to install the grip on an article ofathletic equipment with a non-uniform shape, with a lip or ridge at theend of the article, or with a shape that is wider at the end than at thepoint where the grip will rest, such as the shaft of a baseball bat orlacrosse stick. FIG. 7 includes a top 710 and bottom 720 view of anexample article of athletic equipment 810 which the wrap grip 820 may beused with, specifically, a baseball bat in this example. The wrap grip820 is comprised of a TPE, as described in the variations above. The TPEmay include all of the benefits as described above such as, but notlimited to, maintenance of the clarity of the grip, adjusted weight tofit the needs of each specific grip manufactured, and a durometer, orhardness factor, that can be adjusted to the precise durometer ratingrequired. Additionally, the TPE may include a UV protectant, ananti-leaching agent, or both.

The artwork sticker or label 310, which is wrapped around an article ofathletic equipment 810 (such as a baseball bat, as illustrated in FIG. 7through 11) prior to installation of the wrap grip 820, is identical tothe label 310 used with the molded grip 210 and described above. As withthe molded grip 210, the label 310 is visible through the wrap grip 820(see, for example, FIGS. 8, 10 and 11).

The wrap grip 820 has a clear, double-sided adhesive (not numbered)attached to an inner side of the wrap grip 820. The clear, double-sidedadhesive is covered by a liner 910, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The liner910 is removed prior to installation to expose the clear, double-sidedadhesive. The wrap grip 820 is then installed in a spiral motion aroundthe article of athletic equipment 810 such as, for example, a baseballbat or other article with a non-uniform shape. As illustrated in FIG.11, tie-off tape 1110 (for example, black electrical tape) is used tosecure the two ends of the wrap grip 700 when completely installed on anarticle of athletic equipment 810.

The wrap grip 820 may include a patterned texture with recessed orimprinted markings for improved gripping capability. The recessed orimprinted markings can increase the resistance to slippage when the wrapgrip 820 is in use. The label/substrate materials have improved clarityand adhesive characteristics due to production with an industrialprinting machine. Resistance to wrinkles and improved adhesivecharacteristics will ensure continued performance of the wrap grip 820under normal use.

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its advantages,and the specified objects attained by its uses, reference should be madeto the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there areillustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The variousembodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only andshould not be construed to limit the disclosure. Those skilled in theart will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may bemade without following the example embodiments and applicationsillustrated and described herein and without departing from the truespirit and scope of the disclosed grip.

1. A semitransparent, thermoplastic elastomer-based athletic gripcapable of maintaining clarity of the semitransparent nature of thegrip, being resistant to degradation from UV light, and preventing oilsfrom reaching the surface of the grip.
 2. The grip of claim 1, whereinthe grip is also capable of being resistant to degradation from gripsolvents.
 3. The grip of claim 2, wherein the grip is in a cylindricalshape that is sufficiently flexible to be slid over the end of a golfclub.
 4. The grip of claim 3, wherein a cap is attached to the grip atthe top of the golf club.
 5. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip is inthe form of an adhesive wrap that can be installed on articles ofathletic equipment with a non-uniform shape.